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Syria: Ashton calls on Un to take responsability

(ANSAmed) - DEAD SEA (JORDAN), FEBRUARY 22 - EU foreign
policy chief Catherine Ashton on Wednesday called on embattled
Syrian president to step aside and urged the UN to take
responsibility over developments in Syria.

''I call upon all members of the security council to consider
yet again the responsibilities of the UN,'' she said in a press
conference with Jordan's prime minister Awn Khasawneh.

She also called on Assad to step aside to allow peaceful
transition of power.

''I just think what is happening in Syria is appalling. I
don't really have the vocabulary to describe the situation the
people are finding themselves in. And I have been very clear on
behalf of all 27 member states of the European Union that
leadership does not involve the murder of your own people or
anyone else, it involves working with your people and finding
solutions. And we have been very clear therefore, that president
Assad should step aside,'' she added.

The top EU diplomat arrived in the kingdom to hold meetings
with Jordanian officials on bilateral relations but could not
escape political echo of shelling in neibhouring Syria in the
neighbouring kingdom.

Ashton said meeting with the Arab league and other supporters
of the Syrian people will discuss means of supporting Syrians
with options to end the crisis. (ANSAmed).